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I thought I'd add a FRAP question. Came across one I thought would be helpful to discuss
What is the % recovery and lateral mobility for large multi-subunit integral membrane protein that is not anchored to the cytoskeleton?
a. High % recovery with fast mobility
b. Low % recovery with fast mobility
c. High % recovery with slow mobility
d. Low % recovery with low mobility
The answer is not given but I'm pretty sure I got the reasoning right behind the one I think is the answer. Hopefully there are some other FRAP experts in here who can back me up when the time comes...
btw. if anyone that has taken the exam could just say whether the questions on this material were similar to how i phrased the question so I know if i prepared correctly for this question, that would be super. I know you're not allowed to post questions but is it 'legal' to "nod" at whether or not my question is similar to the ones on the actual dat? lol

alrighty, for this question, my answer is also C. Since it's not tethered to the cytoskeleton, lateral movement is possible thereby giving it high % recovery. However since it is a large multi-subunit protein, I can't imagine it traveling very fast thereby giving it slow mobility. Reasoning sounds simple enough. I'm going with Ockham's razor on this unless someone can prove me wrong haha
there is a hole in my theory however and it's one i hope someone can clarify. I wasn't positive on whether integral proteins are capable of movement. I tried searching for it on wiki but couldn't find anything of use. I'm sure peripheral proteins are capable of lateral movement but integral ones, not so sure of. Who wants to let me in on this little tidbit? 😕
please and thaaaaank you😀
Integral membrane proteins can diffuse laterally.
I believe the answer to the question is A. If it isn't anchored it will easily diffuse to the portion of the membrane where it has been photobleached. Integral membrane proteins won't diffuse as rapidly as peripheral proteins but still fast. The answer is definitely A.
Yes, I said that in my post. However, it is still a rapid movement just not as rapid as a peripheral protein.I see your point, but relative to a peripheral protein, wouldnt u think it would be slower?
Yes, I said that in my post. However, it is still a rapid movement just not as rapid as a peripheral protein.
I shall elaborate on my reasoning. When an area of the membrane is bleached in the technique, stuff in the membrane can laterally diffuse into that area. For proteins, if it is not anchored to the cytoskeleton, stuck in a really dense part of the membrane or stuck on other anchored components, it will laterally diffuse into the bleached areas. Both peripheral and integral membrane proteins that don't fall into any of the previous conditions will rapidly diffuse into the bleached part of the membrane. Just because it is a large subunit doesn't mean it will move slowly.
If you take a cell bio class and read through the scientific literature you will see that large integral membrane proteins can rapidly diffuse into photobleached areas of the membrane.
To be honest, I don't think anyone here should worry about FRAP more than the other bio topics that might be covered on the DAT.